Dancer&#39;s illuminating paraphernalia



Aug. 25, l1931. J. scHMALBAcl-l DANcERs LLUMINATING PARAPHERNALIA Filed Feb. 19, `v19151 2 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 25, 1931. .lfsci-{MALBA'l-l` DANCERS ILLUMINA-TING PARAPHERNLIA v Filed Feb. 19, ,1931 2 sheets-sheet 2' Patented Aug. 25, 1931 JANE 'SCHMALBAGR or NEW YORK, N. Y.

' ynnrcnns ILLUMINATING rAnAPHnRNALrA.,

Appncaaen med rental-y19, 1931. seri-a1 No. 516,871.

My ,inventionA` relates vto, paraphernalia morey especially intended for. use byv dancers particularly when 'iengaged in rythmic and acrobatic dancing for the purpose of pro! viding varying artistic and fantastic effects through the medium of various color effects produced by the illumination of a plurality of inflated ballonsinpre-selected arrangement.l Y l l My invention contemplates the provision ofy suitable electric circuits with electric bulbs associated withthe balloons and suitable switches so arranged in the paraphernalia that the switch portion or portionswill lli A 1f constitute the hand grasping portion ofthe paraphernalia and thus permit the dancer to illuminate a pre-selected portion lof or the entire paraphernalia; .during prearranged moments in the ldance or while' engaged in t@ certain gyratory movements or fantastic poses .of the acrobatic or rythmic dance.

The invention has for its object'the ypro-y vision ofA such devices adapted to permit the twirling, twisting and swinging operations necessarily encountered;.which will' be safe in its use and which at the same time will withstand the more or less severe use to which it is subjected. Y.

For the purpose Vof exemplifying my .invention, I have illustrated ,certainV embodiments of my invention, but it will belunder` stood that the 'invention may be expressed in modifications of the vparticular arrangements disclosed in the drawings, without, however, departing from thefspirit of my inventionf* i 1 1n the drawings :e I' Figure 1 is a plan view of anv exemp'lifica- 'tion of my invention inthe form of anV elongated member provided with bulb'and balloon holding. leads with only'one ofv the leads beingv shown provided with an inflated balloon. s f. y f' l n, A Figure 2 is a sectional detailview of one 45 end of a'lead, its socket member and a ,por-Vv tion of an inflated balloon. Y n n Figure 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention in the formrofv ajumping rope, with portions ofk somey of the balloons being shown, otherskbeing omitted; and

portion of the rope shown in section to dis-i close the currentk conducting element therein. Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of the rope at one of the leads with its bulb and balloon holding socket and only a por- 55 tion of the balloon b eing'shown secured in place. y y Y Y l Figure 5 is alongitudinal sectionalview of a portion of one ofthe hand-grasping portions or handles of the rope shown in 60 Figure 3, illustrating the switch mechanism and current supplying battery therein.

vThe invention in Figure 1 is exemplified in the nature of a harness'or elongated mem ber 15 of suitable or predetermined length so as to permit opposite ends thereof to be secured to or held in the hands of the dancer and enable the dancer to extend her Yarms in opposite or any extended position in keep'- ing with the artistic effect desiredto lbe obtained, so as to enable the illuminated Vportions or balloons to `bedispos'ed throughout they height of the dancer and above the head sof as' to Vpractically envelop Vthe entire body of the dancer during certain fantastic pos ings in the rythmic dance.`

The body portion 15 isof suitable flexible material and provided with electric current conducting element or a suitable wire exf tendingrthroughout the body portion from end to endthereof with theterminals ofV the conducting wire or wires leading fromv an' intermediate partiof the body portion, as shown'at 16, 16.y The immediate ends of the terminals 16, 16 aresliown provided with suitable clips 17, whereby the terminals may be ,readily rsecured to a source ofelectric current Vpreferably la dry cell battery or bat-4 teries arranged at a suitable placein the costume of thedancing girl. 90 The opposite ends of the body portion or memberY 15v are provided with suitable bulb holding socket members 18 of the typewhich permit lsmall'incandescent lamp bulbs to be secured therein as shown for example at 19 in Figure 2. Y. l

The'member 15 at various points intermediate of its ends, in predetermined arrangef ment is provided with Aa number of leads, which are preferably of differentlengths as shown at 20; and these leads are all pro vided at their ends with similar socket members 1S; the lead 20 being shown as preferably provided with a pair of socket members 18 in bifurcaed arrangement.

The various leads are, of course, provided With current conducting wires which are electrically connected to the wires in the body portion and the various bulb holding sockets 18 are electrically connected with the wires and the various sockets are pref erabl'y arranged in parallel.

The junctures between the leads 20 and the body member 15, in order to withstand the swinging and bending strains, are preferably rcenforced with suitable flexible material as shown at 21 which may be arranged within the outer covering of the device; and similar reenforcing material is also preferably arranged at the connection with the various socket members in order that too acute bending or flexing at such points will not be possible and thus breakage of the conductors within the body and leads is prevented.

The socket members 18 are provided with comparatively thick walls of non-conducting material, gradually increasing in thickness toward the bulb receiving end as shown at 22 in Figure 2. This non-conducting material may either be an integral portion of the socket wall or be applied thereto so as to provide the enlarged tapered wall shown consisting of a yieldable friction providing material 'so as to present a non-slipping gripping surface for the inatable rubber balloon 23. The walls of the socket members are enlarged as shown so as to be larger than the neck or orifice of the balloon and thus necessitate stretching of the balloon oriice in applying the balloon to the socket member; while the yieldable nature of the socket wall will cause the balloon neck to somewhat embed itself in the socket wall and provide a rm air-tight association therebetween.

The increasing thickness toward the outer or bulbwholding end of the socket will not only ensure the inflated balloon remaining in place, but this enlarged or thickened portion also causes the balloon, when inflated, t0 be held a considerable distance away from the lamp or bulb 19, thus keeping the balloon out of injurious contact with the heated or warm bulb, and also ensuring protection for the bulb during forcible contact therewith, as for example with the floor during rapid movements of the paraphernalia.

After the balloons have been placed about the bulb holding socket members, they are then inflated and in order to ensure an airtight relation with the socket members being maintained, I encircle the neck portion of each balloon with a more or less resilient friction providing element or band as shown at 24 in Figure 2, adapted to contract the balloon neck onto the socket member in non-slip air-tight relation.

It is apparent that with the somewhat resilient socket wall 22 and the resilient contracting element 24 the balloons will be held against displacement and also maintained in air-tight relation with the socket members, while at the same time permitting removal of the balloons when occasion arises, for example to renew the bulbs 19.

In the exemplification disclosed in Figure 1, the body member 15 adjacent to one end, namely at a point where the member is close to a hand of the dancer, I provide the member with a suitable switch as at 25, prefer ably of the reciprocating plunger type, to permit the dancer to open and close'the current circuit for the bulbs. This switch may either be of a single or multiple type so as to illuminate all or any given number of balloons at a time.

The device shown in Figure 1 is usually bound or suitably fastened to the arms or wrists of the dancer so it will follow the positions of the dancers arms, while the hands arey free to permit the switch member 25 to be held in one of the hands for easy and quick manipulation. j

In the modification of the invention disclosed in Figure 3, the device is shown in the form of a jumping rope comprising the body portion 15 which is preferably somewhat heavier than the body portion 15 so as to withstand the more or less rough usage and at the same time have the necessary weight to enable easy and more or less uniform gyratory movement thereof in keeping with the step of the dancer; the heavy or transversely enlarged body also causing it to maintain a uniform contour while in use.

The body portion 15a, like member 15, contains a current conducting element or wire, as at 26, extending from end to end, with the ends of the wire or wires extending into the hand-grasping portions or handles 27 which are secured to the ends of the outer body member 15a. y

The hand grasps 27 are preferably in the nature of tubular shells, see Figure 5, with the inner end of each shell provided with an internally threaded socket 28, of conducting material or metal, adapted to receive the threaded plug 29 electrically secured to the end of the conducting wire 2G o f the body member 15a.

The ends of the body portion 15a are each provided with a cap member 30, apertured for passage of the conducting wire 26 therethrough; the wire on the inner side of the cap member 30 being preferably provided with an encirclingy ring or element 31, of

non-conducting material frictionall'y secured to the wire so as to hold it in proper position.

The cap member is preferably removably securedto the end of the shell 27, as for example by screw threads as shown, to permit access to the shell interior when occasion suitable switch such as the usual slide switch indicated at 34 for closing and opening the circuits for the various lamp-bulbs of the balloons,iwith certain bulbs on one circuit controlled by the switch in one hand-grasping shell 27, While the other bulbs are on `a circuit controlled by the switch 34 in the other hand-grasping shell 27; it being un-v derstood that both shells 27 are or may be of the same construction as heretofore described.

The body portion 15a at pre-selected points as shown in Figure 3 is provided with a number of outwardly disposed leads as at 35 or socket members 18 secured directly onto the body member and electrically connected with the conductor Within the body 15a. The socket members 18 are of the construction heretofore described having the somewhat yieldable walls gradually increasing in thickness toward the bulb receivingy socketed end as also shown in Figure 4 so as to firmly hold the stretched neckportion of the balloon 23 in place; with the neck portion of the balloon in turn encircled by the somewhat resilient element or band 24 so as to removably hold the balloon in prop er air-tight sealing relation. y

I have shown and described embodiments of my invention which, in practice, have provided the desired fantastic or artistic effect, wherein, at the will of the dancer, the various inflated balloons may be illuminated different ycolors in illumination being obtained by either having the lamp-bulbs of various colors or the rubber balloons, or both; and where the paraphernalia isin the form of a jumping rope, the balloons and bulb holding sockets are preferably arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate portion of the body which is apt to come into forcible or slapping contact with the floor.

The forms of the invention yshown and described are believed, from actual use, to

be he best embodiments, and these have been described in terms employed merely as terms Vof description and not as terms of limitation, as modifications are possible and may be made' without, however, departing from the spirit of my` invention.

,What I claim is: i f 1.'Paraphernalia of the character :described comprising .anv elongated flexible body portion provided'with a current conductor therein; the body throughout its length being provided with incandescent lamp holding socket members; inflatable rubber balloons secured in air-tight relation on said socket members; the conductor of the body portion having terminals for electrical connection with a'source of electric current; and hand controlled switch mechanism se-V cured to said 'body portionv for controlling the electric circuit through the body portion.

2. Paraphernalia of the character def scribed -comprising an yelongated, flexible body portion providedy with a current i Y conductor extending. throughout its length and. provided with terminals adapted to form electrical connection with a source of current supply; a plurality of incandescent Alamp holding socket members secured at preselected points throughout the lengthy ofthe body portion and electrically connected with the current conductor within the body portion, said socket membershaving walls of friction providing yieldabley material increasing in thickness toward the lamp holding ends thereof; inflatable rubber balloons secured on said socket members so as to enclose the lamps; means disposed about the necks of the balloons for holding the latter in air-tight relation with the socket members; and hand switch mechanism secured tol the body portiony for controlling the circuit through the conductor within `the body "por:V

tion.

Paraphernalia ofthe character des scribed comprising an elongated Aflexible non-conducting body portion having a eurrent conductor embedded therein ,and extending rfrom endto end, said conductor Y having terminals adapted to form electrical connection with a source oficurrent supply; incandescent lamp holding socket members arrangedat preselected points on said body portion and electrically connected withfsaid conductor;l inflatable vrubber balloons arranged on said socket members; resilient means disposed about the necks of the balloons for holdingthe latter in air-tight relation with the socket members; and switch Vmechanism secured to the body portion for controlling the circuit through the conducvtor in the body portion.

4. Paraphernalia of the character described comprising an elongated flexible body portion provided with current conducting means embedded thereinl and with a plurality of incandescent lamp holding socket members at preselected points electrically connected with said conducting means; hand grasping shells secured to the ends of the body portion; means arranged in one endV of said shell for forming electrical contact LII with the ends of said conducting means; current supplying batteries arranged in said shells; switch mechanism arranged in said shells for controlling the electric circuits for said lamps; inflatable rubber balloons for enclosing the lamps; and means for holding the balloons in air-tight relation on said socket members.

5. Paraphernalia of the character described comprising an elongated flexible body portion provided with current conducting means therein and with a plurality of laterally disposed incandescent lamp holding socket members at preselected points; inflatable rubber balloons secured about the lamps on the socket members; a hand grasping shell secured to each end of the body portion provided With removable caps at the ends thereof; current supplying batteries arranged in said shells, and switch mechanism on said shells for controlling the current flow from the batteries through the current conducting means in said body portion.

6. paraphernalia of the character described comprising an elongated flexible body portion provided with current conducting means and with a plurality of incandescent lamp holding socket members in preselected arrangement disposed laterally from said body portion; inflatable rubber balloons secured on the socket members about the lamps; means whereby the balloons Will be held in air tight relation With the socket members and out of contact with the incandescent .lamps therein; hand grasping shells secured to the ends of the body portion; current supplying batteries arranged in said shells; and switch mechanism arranged in said shells for controlling current flow from the batteries through the conducting means in said body portion.

JANE SCHMALBAGH. 

